1. GREAT VICTORY FOR CONSERVATION FARM PROGRAMS

Today in the Senate, Sen. Tom Harkin and others successfully carried the day for farm conservation programs advancing money for programs previously zeroed out by the Administration and the House of Representatives. Rodger Slickheisen, President of Defenders of Wildlife said, "We deeply appreciate the stand Senator Harkin took for farmers who want to protect the environment, and for all Amercians who stand to benefit from their stewardship." "It's a real shame," Slickheisen continued, "that the Senator had to take on the White House, which would have left thousands of conservation-minded farmers across the country high and dry. All along the campaign trail, the President talked a great game about locally-led, voluntary conservation programs, but if he meant what he was saying, he should have supported these programs." Many thanks to all rural Network members who placed calls. Your efforts were very effective. Please stay tuned for other alerts as the Senate may attempt next week to amend Harkin's proposal.

The Clean Water Network (CWN) has released their comments on the EPA's proposed regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Recognizing the threat that CAFOs pose to air and water quality, local residents, fish and wildlife, recreational opportunities, and farm communities, CWN calls upon EPA to strengthen their regulations. Specifically, CWN recommends: closing all loopholes in the current regulations; holding corporate integrators responsible for pollution caused by contracted facilities; requiring all large operations to obtain individual permits; phasing out waste lagoons; limiting sprayfield application; and controlling air pollution as well as water pollution. CWN states "The final regulations should encourage CAFOs to adopt sustainable animal production systems that protect air, surface and water resources."

Contact Lindsey Christ at lchrist@nrdc.org or 202-289-2422 to receive a copy of the comments or to sign on.

3. GAO REPORTS ON DISTRIBUTION OF FARM ASSISTANCE

A Government Accounting Office Report released on June 15, 2001 provides new evidence of the unequal distribution of federal agricultural assistance under the 1996 Freedom to Farm Act. 45% of all federal assistance in 1999 went to farms with over $250,000 in annual gross agricultural sales fewer than 7% of all farms in the country. Medium-sized farms received 41% of the aid. The 76% of the country's farms that gross less than $50,000 per year shared a mere 14% of government assistance, with average payments of about $4,000 (compared to nearly $65,000 for large farms and $22,000 for medium farms). 1999 represents the smallest share for small farmers of the entire decade of the 90s.  

Reacting to the GAO report, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, told the Des Moines Register on July 18: "This report confirms what we have known for a long time: that Freedom to Farm has unfairly benefitted large farms while disadvantaging small farmers."

Is the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA) good for the American Farmer? While the leadership of the American Farm Bureau argues yes, the statistics point a different direction.  

According to a study released in June by Public Citizen after NAFTA was enacted, the rate of elimination of small U.S. farms with sales under $100,000 was six times greater than in the preceding five-year period. Contrary to expectations, the U.S. agriculture trade balance declined by 71% after NAFTA's passage.

While farmers suffered, some agribusiness giants profited. According to the report, ADM's profits nearly tripled, and ConAgra's profits more than doubled since NAFTA took effect. While the Farm Bureau ignores these statistics a look at the bureau's financial ties to corporate agribusiness reveal a different possibility. For details on the Farm Bureau's convuluted ties to ADM and other corporate agribusiness conglomerates, see "Amber Waves of Gain", Chapter four, pg. 38 at: http://www.familyfarmer.org/awg.html